Get ready to configure and operate modern data centers-and move up to high-value CCNP Data Center (DC) certification Cisco Data Center Fundamentals is the complete guide for network engineers and other professionals who need a solid understanding of modern data center technologies. Especially useful for those preparing for the Cisco DCCOR exam and Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Data Center certification, it fully addresses the essentials of networking, storage, compute, and automation in today's data center environments. Authored by two long-time experts in operating Cisco data centers and developing official Learning@Cisco training for them, this guide explains each concept step by step, balancing depth and breadth, and maximizing clarity throughout. The authors go far beyond introducing relevant products, protocols, and features. They illuminate underlying technologies, identify key interdependencies, walk through configuring working solutions, and truly help prepare you to set up and operate a modern data center. Gain a holistic, unified understanding of the data center and its core components Walk through installation and deployment of key data center technologies Explore potential applications to see what's possible in your environment Learn how Cisco switches and software implement data center networking and virtualization Discover and apply data center network design and security best practices Review Cisco data center storage technologies and concepts, including Fibre Channel, VSANs, storage virtualization, and FCoE Explore the building blocks of the Cisco UCS data center compute solution, and how UCS uses hardware abstraction and server virtualization Use automation and APIs to improve data center productivity and agility Create and customize scripts for rapid troubleshooting Understand cloud computing for the data center: services, deployment models, and the Cisco Intersight hybrid cloud operations platform